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Thursday, June 23, 2016

According to Jobvite’s 2015 Recruiter Nation Survey, only 4% of recruiters DON’T use social
media in the recruiting process and 87%
of those surveyed use LinkedIn for recruiting. Why?
LinkedIn is the largest professional network in the world with over 400
million users across the globe including executives from all fortune 500
companies. LinkedIn is an easy way to meet new people, network with others in
your field, and promote yourself as a polished professional.

Here are 5 ways you can use LinkedIn to reach your career
goals:

1.Create an effective profile: Thoroughly
complete all of your profile, add a professional photo, include important
skills, and get recommendations! Check
out the LinkedIn Profile Checkliston our website to create
your strong and professional profile.

2.Find and connect with alumni: Use the
LinkedIn Alumni tool to get
information about where your fellow alums work, what they do, and where they
live. Reach out to alums with jobs you’re interested in and get ideas on
organizations to target. Review the blog Networking: Leverage LinkedIn's Alumni Tool for more information.

3. Join Groups:
LinkedIn Groups are virtual meeting rooms where people with similar interests
can post and hold conversations around topics they want to share or learn more
about. Join groups related to your
industry, show off your expertise around a subject, reach out to individuals
within a group, and grow relationships with like-minded people. Don’t forget to
join your alma maters’ groups and alumni groups like WGU’s Alumni & Students Group! Learn how to find and join groups here.

4. Research
Companies, Employees, and Jobs: Search for a company on LinkedIn to conduct
research, view job opportunities under the company’s Career tab, and see if
you’re connected to anyone who works or has worked there. Research the career paths of people at that
organization, find related companies, and see what recent topic trends are in
the company’s updates. Also use the Jobs
section of LinkedIn to keyword search jobs in any region. Read LinkedIn
in 30 Minutes’ tips on How to Use LinkedIn to Research Companies.

5. Stay Active:
Frequently share status updates, upload photos, or publish a post from your
home tab to keep your LinkedIn network engaged and your name fresh in their
minds! This strategy improves your
LinkedIn profile’s visibility in search engine results and showcases your
knowledge, passion, and goals related to your field of work. Just remember to keep the content
professional and carefully edit grammar and spelling. Read LinkedIn’s helpful article on Sharing an Update vs. Publishing a Post.